File



Jan. 10,1939.- R. FETTEROLF FILE f Filed Aug.. 20, 1937 Patented Jan. 10, 1939 nis STATES ATENT OFFQE Claims.

This invention relates to files and more particularly to files and holders therefor which will have a wide range of use.

In working with 'certain materials, such as duraluminium and similar metals, lacquer, flexible glass and similar synthetic cellulosic materials, glue, and the like, diiiiculties have been encountered with the files heretofore available particularly in that such files clog up with the material being filed. In working upon curved or irregular surfaces also, many of the files which are available can not be used in confined spaces and along and into sharp concave bends.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved le which will be self-cleaning.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved form of le tooth which will be self-cleaning.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a file having an edge portion for working in confined spaces such as are encountered in sharply concave curved surfaces.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a iile having working or cutting surfaces which can be utilized for a variety of shapes to be filed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a iiexible file and a holder therefor so that the working surface of the file can be given any selected curvature from end to end.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a le which may be adjusted to provide a curved filing surface from edge to edge.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the annexed specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the le of the present invention;

Fig, 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in. Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken approximately on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the file taken approximately on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a portion of the working surfaces of the file;

Fig. 8 is a top plan View of a modified form of iile construction, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

It will, of course be understood that the description and drawing herein contained are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the body of the iile is indicated generally at l5 and preferably comprises a plurality of upper wall portions i6 having a slot il therebetween, downwardly extending side portions I8 and toothed portions I. A strip may be provided between the top portions H3 and may be Welded or other- Wise secured thereto for purposes hereinafter more fully referred to. The forward end of the top portions H3 may have a cutaway portion as at 2l for purposes hereinafter more fully referred to.

The teeth l0 are preferably formed with side portions 22 which support the remaining portions of the teeth I9 and are integral with the side portions I8. It is also preferable that these side portions 22 be inclined forwardly as illustrated.

The teeth i9 also include the transversely extending portions 23 and although shown as extending at right angles with respect to the side portions IS may be inclined on the face, or if desired may be curved between the side face portions i8 with portions relieved, as at 24, to provide suitable clearance. The teeth i9 are also preferably spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the material removed by the file to pass upwardly and out of contact with the teeth Iii. It will be noted that an open space is provided above the teeth.

The file is suitable for use with the edges of the teeth I9 in the same plane, although in use it is frequently desirable to provide a curvature from end to end as illustrated in Fig. 1 and for this purpose the handle construction illustrated is satisfactory.

Upon reference to Figs, 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that a gripping handle 25 is provided which has portions 26 extending across the top face 6 and has a portion 21 extending downwardly within the slot Il with a notched face 23 for engagement with the cross piece 2G. The sides of the portion 28 may also be notched as at 29. At the forward end of the gripping handle Z another downwardly extending portion 30 is provided, which has a portion 3l extending downwardly in the slot l'l and has portions 32 for engagement with the top face I6. At the forward end of the flle a strap 33 is provided which has a hooked portion 34 in engagement with the end of the file and is preferably set back within the recess 2|.

A handle 35, preferably in the forni of a knob is mounted above the strap 33, and a bolt 36 extending upwardly through the knob 35 is provided, a nut 31 and a washer 38 being employed for holding the knob 35 in engagement with the strap 33. The bolt member 36 has a rearwardly extending portion 39 inclined and threaded. Another bolt member 4d having an enlarged head 4| is mounted in the gripping handle 25 and is also provided with a threaded portion, the threads being oppositely disposed with respect to the threads on the bolt member 39. The bolt members 39 and 4D are connected by means of a threaded buckle 42. The provision of the turnbuckle 42, as will be apparent from Figs. l and 2, permits of variation of the end to end curvature of the le. The downwardly projecting portion 30 insures the rigidity of the le when curved and prevents undesired bending thereof in use.

In the form of le shown in Figs. 8 and 9 opposed pairs of angles 43 are secured to the top faces I6 of the file and bolts 411 extending therebetween permit of imparting a curvature of the teeth from edge to edge of the le and varying the curvature as desired.

It will be noted that the provision of the handles 25 and 35 permit of handling the file in a plurality of positions and using one or both hands. It will also be noted that the provision of the teeth I9 from end to end of the le permit of utilization of the ends of the file for ling in confined spaces and that the provision of the edge portions 22 of the teeth likewise permit of ling in spaces and places not otherwise possible.

I claim:

1. A iiexible file having an upper face portion and a lower cutting portion and means mounted on said upper face portion for varying the lateral curvature of said cutting portion between the side edges of said iile.

2. A exible iile having an upper face portion and a lower cutting portion and means mounted on said upper face portion at a plurality of locations therealong for varying the lateral curvature of said cutting portion between the side edges of said le, said means including spaced upwardly extending portions on said upper face portion and a member extending therebetween for varying the relative spaced position thereof.

3. A exible le having an upper face portion and a lower cutting portion spaced therefrom and means mounted on said upper face portion at a plurality of locations therealong for varying the lateral curvature of said cutting portion between the side edges of said file, said means including spaced upwardly extending portions on said upper face portion and a bolt member extending between said upwardly extending portions for varying the relative spaced position thereof.

4. A file having the face portion composed of a plurality of individual tooth members extending from edge to edge on the face portion of the le and each having a cutting edge across the face portion of the le, and means for supporting said tooth members at their ends to provide open spaces between and above said tooth members, said means including side members one at each end of each tooth member and spaced longitudinally along the le, said side members being respectively integral with said tooth members at the ends thereof and away from said tooth members and said face portion, and longitudinally extending body members integrally connected with said spaced side members.

5. A le having the face portion composed of a plurality of individual tooth members each having a cutting edge disposed laterally on the face portion of the le, and individual tooth supporting members secured to each tooth member at each of the ends thereof, said tooth supporting members being spaced longitudinally along the file for providing open spaces between and above said tooth members and between said tooth supporting members, and longitudinally extending body members with which said tooth supporting members are integral.

6. A iile having the face portion composed of a plurality of individual tooth members each having a cutting edge disposed laterally on the face portion of the file, and tooth supporting members secured to the respective ends of said tooth members, said tooth supporting members being spaced longitudinally along the ile for providing open spaces at the ends of, between and above said tooth members, said tooth supporting members being inclined toward one end of the le, and longitudinally extending body members with which said tooth supporting members are integral.

7. A file comprising a plurality of individual tooth members having spaces therebetween and an open space thereabove, cutting edges on said tooth members, side portions spaced longitudinally along each of the side edges of the le for supporting each of said tooth members at the ends thereof and extending from said tooth members, and longitudinally extending body portions spaced from said tooth members with which said side portions are integral.

8. A iile comprising a plurality of individual tooth members having spaces therebetween and an open space thereabove and extending from edge to edge of the file, cutting edges on said tooth members, side portions supporting said tooth members at the ends thereof and angularly disposed with respect thereto, said side portions having cutting edges, and spaced longitudinally extending body portions spaced from each other and from said tooth members to which said side portions extend.

9. A iile comprising a plurality of laterally extending individual tooth members having spaces therebetween and an open space thereabove, cutting edges on said tooth members, side edge portions spaced longitudinally along each of the side edges of the le, said side edge portions being secured to and integral with said tooth members at the ends thereof and inciined toward one end of the file for supporting said tooth members, longitudinally extending side body portions to which said spaced side portions extend and with which said side portions are integral, and longitudinally extending body portions angularly disposed with respect to said side body portions.

`10. A file comprising a plurality of laterally extending individual tooth members having spaces therebetween and an open space thereabove, cutting edges on said tooth members, spaced side portions secured to and integral with said tooth members, angularly disposed with respect to said tooth members and inclined toward one end of the le for supporting said tooth members at the ends thereof, longitudinally extending side body portions to which said spaced side portions extend and with which said spaced side portions are integral, and longitudinally extending body portions angularly disposed with respect to said side body portions.

l1. A iile comprising a plurality of laterally extending individual tooth members having spaces therebetween and an open space thereabove, cutting edges on said tooth members, spaced side portions secured to and integral with said tooth members, said spaced side portions being angularly disposed with respect to said tooth members and inclined toward one end of the le for supporting said tooth members at the ends thereof, said side portions having cutting edges, longitudinally extending side body portions to which said spaced side portions extend, and longitudinally extending body portions angularly disposed with respect to said side body portions.

12. A file C-shaped in lateral cross section, the face portion being composed of spaced tooth members, said file having side portions spaced longitudinally along the side edges of the le, said side portions being parallel to each other and connected respectively to each of said tooth members at the ends thereof for supporting the same, and spaced body portions extending 1ongitudinally, angularly disposed with respect to said side portions and disposed in a plane parallel to said tooth members.

13. A iile C-shaped in lateral cross section, the face portion being composed of tooth members spaced longitudinally, said file having side portions spaced longitudinally along each side edge parallel to each other along each side edge and connected respectively to each of said tooth members at the ends thereof for supporting the same, said side portions having cutting edges, and spaced body portions extending longitudinally, angularly disposed with respect to said side portions and disposed in a plane parallel to said tooth members.

14. A le having the face portion composed of spaced tooth members and having side portions spaced longitudinally along the file and connected to the respective ends of each of said tooth members for supporting the same, said le being wid-er at the junction of the side portions with the tooth members and said side portions being tapered inwardly from the face'portion, and body portions with which said side portions are integrally connected.

l5. A le having the face portion composed of spaced tooth members and having side portions spaced longitudinally along the le and connected to the respective ends of 'each of said tooth members for supporting the tooth members and providing open spaces between and above said tooth members and between said side portions, said file being wider at the junction of the side porti-ons with the tooth members and tapered inwardly from the face portion, and body portions with which said side portions are integrally connected.

LAYTON R. FETTEROLF.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,115,065. January 10, 1959.

LAYTON R FETTEROLF It is hereby lcertified that error appears in the printed specification.

of the yabove numbered patent requiring correction as follows:v Page 2, first column, line Th, claim h, after the word "and"y insert eitending; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in 4the Patent Office.

signed and vsealed this 28th day of February, A.D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

